Higgins calls on attorney general to keep DuPont Fines in Western New York

by jmaloni

Press release

Thu, Aug 15th 2013 07:00 am

Congressman
said $440,000 in settlement funds should stay local

Congressman
Brian Higgins is calling on the U.S. Department of Justice to allow
for $440,000 in fines to be paid by DuPont to stay in Western New
York.

Under
a consent decree agreed to between the Department of Justice and
DuPont on Aug. 7, the company will pay the federal government a civil
penalty of $440,000 in response to a suit alleging violations to the
Clean Air Act and the Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know
Act in connection to its facility located in Tonawanda.

In
a letter
to the U.S. Attorney General, Higgins argues the fines would have
a much greater impact if they were to stay in the community rather
than be returned to the federal treasury.

"I
write today to advocate that this sum be instead allocated to
environmental remediation efforts in the immediate vicinity of the
plant, rather than being sent to the Treasury, where its impact will
be diluted," he wrote. "While some gains have been made in
remediating the environmental damage caused by industrialization in
the Town of Tonawanda and the nearby communities, much important work
remains to be done.This
settlement could be an important resource in advancing that effort."